Talkback Classroom

Two representatives from Talkback Classroom, an Australian program that aims to bring students into political involvement, visited Blair on Oct. 13 in an effort to recruit Blazers for a televised interview in April of 2005.

Talkback Classroom, whose slogan is "A Voice for the Vote-less," was started in Australia as a way for students to interact directly with politicians and policy makers. It has since been expanded through the National Museum of Australia in Canberra and the Smithsonian Institution to create a televised platform where three Australian and three American students can question officials such as the Australian Prime Minister and U.N. representatives. On Tuesday, Oct. 19, senior Will Dreher will be part of the panel to interview the U.S. Ambassador to Australia, Tom Schieffer. Gordon Su and Abhi Nargundkar of the class of 2004 were also participants, as well as senior Sheila Rajagopal.

In order to prepare for the interview, students are invited to participate in a series of workshops that increase their knowledge of current events. Senior Tom Meyer participated last year and felt that the workshops and the experience as a whole were very beneficial to expanding his world view. "You learn a lot. You go around the Smithsonian and take notes on exhibits [and] talk with curators… I worked with artifacts," Meyer said about his participation.

Meyer felt that the opportunity was stellar. "It's a chance to talk about everyday issues that affect you, that affect kids in Australia, and then it culminates into an interview with a public official, which is something kids never get to do. You can ask them anything you want," he extolled. In order to increase participation, Meyer is looking to start up a club here at Blair.

This empowered reaction is exactly what Manager of Schools Programs at the National Museum of Australia David Arnold is looking for. "The basic purpose [of the program] is to give a voice to young people, especially those who aren't able to vote, to [let them] talk about issues that matter to young people with the people who make decisions," Arnold explained.

Program founder Stephen Cutting described Talkback Classroom's mission as uniquely dedicated to students. "There are no other opportunities that I know of that provide a media platform for young people to debate with politicians," he said. He added that the older generations that are more often targeted by politicians are out of touch with students. "[Students] are much smarter [than believed]. They're more capable than they're given credit for," he explained. He hopes this program will help to remedy the patronization young people currently receive from the media.

Cutting and Arnold spoke to social studies teacher Rondai Ravilious' AP World History sixth and eighth period classes to attract juniors and seniors to the program. Arnold described it as "spreading the good word, handing out propaganda." They will also visit other area high schools.

Students interested in Meyer's club should contact Ravilious at Rondai_Ravilious@fc.mcps.k12.md.us. Juniors and seniors interested in signing up for Talkback Classroom should send an email to the Smithsonian program coordinator Candra Flanagan at cflanagan@si.edu with their name, date of birth, school and grade level, email address, telephone number and 50-100 words explaining their interest in Talkback Classroom.